Chapter 20Chapter 20Section 5Section 5

The The

American American

RevolutionRevolution

Empire and ConflictEmpire and Conflict

The British colonies in North America were located The British colonies in North America were located along the east coast. along the east coast.

French colonies were located to the north and west.French colonies were located to the north and west. When the colonists began to venture out toward When the colonists began to venture out toward

the west, conflicts were inevitablethe west, conflicts were inevitable In North America the result was the French and In North America the result was the French and

Indian war in 1754Indian war in 1754 Which sparked the 7 Years War in Europe from Which sparked the 7 Years War in Europe from

1756 to 17631756 to 1763 The British won both of the wars and gained control The British won both of the wars and gained control

of much of North America through the Treaty of of much of North America through the Treaty of ParisParis

Increased Imperial ControlIncreased Imperial Control In order to pay Britain back, America was made In order to pay Britain back, America was made

to pay more taxes and the Brits began to enforce to pay more taxes and the Brits began to enforce the mercantilism lawsthe mercantilism laws

In 1765, Parliament passed the In 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp ActStamp Act, , imposing a tax in the form of a special stamp on imposing a tax in the form of a special stamp on documents such as wills, contracts, mortgages documents such as wills, contracts, mortgages and newspapersand newspapers

The colonists protested and eventually, Britain The colonists protested and eventually, Britain repealed the Actrepealed the Act

With each new tax law, the colonial resistance With each new tax law, the colonial resistance increased increased

With no representatives in Parliament the With no representatives in Parliament the colonists argued “no taxation without colonists argued “no taxation without representation” and relations between Britain representation” and relations between Britain and the colonies grew worseand the colonies grew worse

“An Emblem of the Effects of the STAMP,” a warning

against the Stamp Act published in the

Pennsylvania Journal, October 1765; in the New

York Public Library.

England issued an embossed tax stamp in

1765 for use in the American colonies

Intensified ConflictIntensified Conflict It was under the rule of King George III that the final It was under the rule of King George III that the final

break with the colonies occurredbreak with the colonies occurred George III was determined to force the colonists George III was determined to force the colonists

obedience. In 1770 he found a new prime minister in obedience. In 1770 he found a new prime minister in Lord North Lord North

At this time in the colonies about 1/3 of the citizens, At this time in the colonies about 1/3 of the citizens, called called Patriots,Patriots, wanted independence from Britain, wanted independence from Britain, about 1/3, called about 1/3, called LoyalistsLoyalists, opposed independence and , opposed independence and the other third did not take sidesthe other third did not take sides

In 1773 Lord North gave the British East India Company In 1773 Lord North gave the British East India Company a monopoly to ship tea to the colonies resulting in the a monopoly to ship tea to the colonies resulting in the Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

In response, Parliament closed the Boston Harbor.In response, Parliament closed the Boston Harbor. {Colonists called this and several other British laws {Colonists called this and several other British laws

passed in 1774 the passed in 1774 the Intolerable ActsIntolerable Acts}}

Continued…Continued…

{In the fall of 1774, delegates from 12 of the 13 {In the fall of 1774, delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia in the colonies met in Philadelphia in the First First Continental Congress to Continental Congress to demand full rights of demand full rights of British citizensBritish citizens.}.}

By April of 1775 British troops began to feel By April of 1775 British troops began to feel threatenedthreatened

In response the British troops began to seize In response the British troops began to seize colonial guns and gunpowdercolonial guns and gunpowder

At the towns of Lexington and Concord the At the towns of Lexington and Concord the British fought with a group of armed colonists. British fought with a group of armed colonists. It was here that the first shots in the American It was here that the first shots in the American Revolution took place. Revolution took place.

A single and evoked shot rang out from behind a stone wall. "The shot that was heard ‘round the world", is still unknown from which musket, or which side the shot came from. 

The Declaration The Declaration Independence Independence

Delegates met again and voted to declare their freedom Delegates met again and voted to declare their freedom from Great Britainfrom Great Britain

On July 4, 1776 they adopted the Declaration of On July 4, 1776 they adopted the Declaration of Independence, establishing the United States of America Independence, establishing the United States of America as an independent nationas an independent nation

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was the principle author was the principle author In his first draft of the declaration, Jefferson had In his first draft of the declaration, Jefferson had

denounced slavery, a majority objected. Stating it was denounced slavery, a majority objected. Stating it was an attack on their right to “own property”. Therefore an attack on their right to “own property”. Therefore delegates to the Congress omitted the passagedelegates to the Congress omitted the passage

By the way the declaration did not include women either By the way the declaration did not include women either {The Declaration of Independence {The Declaration of Independence gave rights of gave rights of

governance to the peoplegovernance to the people}} It stated the gov. is created to protect individual rights It stated the gov. is created to protect individual rights

and if it fails to protect those rights, the people may and if it fails to protect those rights, the people may abolish it and set up a new government.abolish it and set up a new government.

The War for IndependenceThe War for Independence Britain had no allies to help in the war. So King George Britain had no allies to help in the war. So King George

had to hire some soldiershad to hire some soldiers Many of these mercenaries were Germans that came Many of these mercenaries were Germans that came

from the town of Hesse.from the town of Hesse. The hiring of the Hessians was seen by colonists to be The hiring of the Hessians was seen by colonists to be

exceptionally brutalexceptionally brutal At first The Americans were poorly trained volunteers At first The Americans were poorly trained volunteers

who did not do well in battle who did not do well in battle Fortunately they had many good leaders such as Fortunately they had many good leaders such as

George Washington, commander of the American George Washington, commander of the American forcesforces

The militia also helped the Americans win the war. They The militia also helped the Americans win the war. They did not follow the rules and standards of a did not follow the rules and standards of a “gentleman’s war” like the English.“gentleman’s war” like the English.

However late, the French also came to America’s aid to However late, the French also came to America’s aid to help them winhelp them win

War and PeaceWar and Peace A major turning point in the war took place in A major turning point in the war took place in

October 1777, when the Americans defeated October 1777, when the Americans defeated the British at Saratoga. This is when France the British at Saratoga. This is when France jumped into the fray, joined with Spain and the jumped into the fray, joined with Spain and the NetherlandsNetherlands

In 1781 American and French forces defeated In 1781 American and French forces defeated the main British army at Yorktown, Virginia, the main British army at Yorktown, Virginia, winning the Revolutionary Warwinning the Revolutionary War

The peace negotiations, led by The peace negotiations, led by Benjamin Benjamin FranklinFranklin, lasted for two years. , lasted for two years.

In 1783 the Americans and their allies signed In 1783 the Americans and their allies signed the Treaty of Paristhe Treaty of Paris

The Americans won their independence and The Americans won their independence and extended their territory extended their territory

Governing a New NationGoverning a New Nation The Second Continental Congress adopted the The Second Continental Congress adopted the

{{Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation, , a plan of government that gave power to the states,} in 1777 in 1777

The articles set up a central government with a one The articles set up a central government with a one house Congress in which each state had a single vote.house Congress in which each state had a single vote.

However, However, {under the Articles of Confederation {under the Articles of Confederation the the central government was weakcentral government was weak}}

This was deliberate because the colonists feared that a strong central government could become repressive so {The Articles of Confederation called for strong {The Articles of Confederation called for strong state governments} state governments} because they were closer to the people

But it was almost immediately the people began to see But it was almost immediately the people began to see that the Articles made it hard to build an effective and that the Articles made it hard to build an effective and stable governmentstable government

The ConstitutionThe Constitution Delegates decided to meet again to revise the Articles, but Delegates decided to meet again to revise the Articles, but

realized it would not be enough and drafted a constitution realized it would not be enough and drafted a constitution which was signed in 1787 and went into force in 1789which was signed in 1787 and went into force in 1789

In which a In which a federal system of governmentfederal system of government was set up. was set up. Meaning that the central government was given many Meaning that the central government was given many important powers like waging war, raising armies, and important powers like waging war, raising armies, and regulating trade. The states and the people retained all the regulating trade. The states and the people retained all the other powersother powers

The government was split into 3 branches the executive The government was split into 3 branches the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch. Each branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch. Each branch acted as a check on the powers of the otherbranch acted as a check on the powers of the other

{Some believed the Constitution did not give individuals {Some believed the Constitution did not give individuals enough rights. As a result, ten amendments were added in enough rights. As a result, ten amendments were added in 1791. They were called the 1791. They were called the Bill of RightsBill of Rights.}.}

Review QuestionsReview Questions What did Colonists call the Stamp act and What did Colonists call the Stamp act and

several other British laws passed in 1774 several other British laws passed in 1774 Why did delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies Why did delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies

met in Philadelphia in the First Continental met in Philadelphia in the First Continental Congress?Congress?

The Declaration of Independence gave rights of The Declaration of Independence gave rights of governance to who?governance to who?

What was theWhat was the plan of government that gave power to the states

What did the Articles of Confederation do to the What did the Articles of Confederation do to the central government?central government?

What are the first ten amendments of the What are the first ten amendments of the Constitution called?Constitution called?

The earliest American folklore The earliest American folklore story was inspired by the story was inspired by the American Revolution. The American Revolution. The Hessians were exceptionally Hessians were exceptionally brutal mercenaries from brutal mercenaries from Germany. They were thought Germany. They were thought to have fought in the war for to have fought in the war for only one reason… blood. They only one reason… blood. They had no stakes in the war and had no stakes in the war and would not profit regardless the would not profit regardless the result. The Headless Horseman result. The Headless Horseman was said to be a Hessian was said to be a Hessian soldier that lost his head due soldier that lost his head due to a cannonball. He was so evil to a cannonball. He was so evil that hell spat him out and he is that hell spat him out and he is doomed to forever wander the doomed to forever wander the scene of the battle searching scene of the battle searching for his head and in the process for his head and in the process taking out his wrath on anyone taking out his wrath on anyone in his wayin his way